Hitchin man suspended after homicide at Euro 2024

A person who punched a person to dying after watching a Euro 2024 England soccer match has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Oscar Jackson, 21, hit safety engineer Grant Wallendorf, 45, within the face after watching England vs Serbia on tv at Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club, close to Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on 16 June.

Father-of-two Mr Wallendorf, from Hitchin, suffered a mind harm after an artery burst and died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Jackson, of Wilshire Crescent, Hitchin, was sentenced on Friday, discovered responsible of homicide, however was acquitted of homicide in November after a listening to on the Crown Court in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

At a listening to in Huntingdon, Judge David Farrell imposed a two-year jail sentence, suspended for 2 years.

He mentioned Jackson should additionally perform 300 hours of unpaid work.

Jackson had denied each homicide and manslaughter, telling police that he had attacked in self-defense and that he didn’t intend to “harm or kill.”

Jurors heard how the incident between the 2 males, who had each been consuming, was captured on a CCTV system Mr Wallendorf had put in on the membership.

The footage reveals Mr Wallendorf pointing at Mr Jackson within the membership's automotive park after the sport, earlier than punching him.

Jackson advised police the sufferer referred to as him “disgusting” when he went to urinate within the bushes.

He mentioned he believed he was going to be attacked and had carried out a “pre-emptive attack”.

The decide mentioned Jackson had not used “proportionate” drive to reply to the alleged menace.

“It's clear to me that you believed Mr. Wallendorf was going to kill you,” the decide mentioned.

“In my opinion, the punch was, colloquially speaking, 'over the top' and excessive.”

But he added: “I believe that no useful purpose will be served by prison.”

He mentioned Jackson “never intended” for no matter occurred to occur.

Jurors heard that Mr Wallendorf was served 9 pints of lager in the course of the afternoon and night of 16 June.

He was advised that Jackson was served two pints of lager and a double vodka and coke.

Prosecution barrister Simon Wilshire advised the courtroom the query was whether or not Jackson attacked in anger or out of concern of “imminent attack”.

He argued that Jackson had thrown a “haymaker punch” in anger.

Tana Adkin Casey, representing Jackson, advised jurors that what occurred was an accident and “pure self-defense.”

He mentioned Jackson was not the aggressor and didn’t throw the “haymaker”.

Mr Wallendorf's spouse Victoria advised the listening to that they had separated.

But, in a sufferer influence assertion, she mentioned the results of his dying have been “devastating”.

“It was the hardest day of my life,” he mentioned.

“His loss leaves a huge void.”

Mr Wallendorf's mom Sally advised the decide in a sufferer influence assertion that she had gone by a “tragic, senseless nightmare”.

The decide mentioned he didn’t consider Jackson was a hazard to the general public.

He additionally mentioned that he had thought of the issue of overcrowding within the jail whereas deciding to impose a suspended sentence.

Det Ch Inspector Nick Gardner, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, mentioned the “whole incident” was tragic.

“It was a stupid argument in the car park and ultimately someone lost their life because of the decision,” he mentioned.